Staying at home a choice??

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2007
Staying at home a choice??
2204
Sun, 04-29-2007 - 6:46am

The author of this article thinks most mothers go to work because they want to, not because they have to.

"Most parents from two-parent families today do have a choice when it comes to parental care. They can try and talk themselves into believing they don't, but it really boils down to priorities."

http://backofthebook.ca/living/2007/03/part-time-ophanages-part-2-job-only.html

Does anyone (other than her) really believe this? I don't know of anyone among my friends who works who wouldn't rather be staying at home with their children. But they don't have the choice!

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:46am
Exactly! I feel like I can actually check laundry off of my list for a few days and the job doesn't feel quite as sisyphean as it actually is. I usually fold once per week curled up in front of the tv at night...it's almost weirdly relaxing.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:48am
I have a full load 5 days out of 7.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:48am

I don't mind the DOING..it's the folding and putting away I hate! LOL

With just me and Liza though I find I do a few small loads throughout the week, nothing too strenuous. She wears uniforms which cuts down on the laundry b/c thos jumpers can usually go a day or two without needing to be washed (her gym uniform is another story ugh!) but I swear Catholic School jumpers are made from some kind of indistructable steel wool or something...

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:49am
Did you do wash that way while you were WOH?

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:50am
Where do the clean clothes stay all week before being folded?

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:51am
I can fold and put away a full load in under 15 minutes.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:52am
I do it on friday afternoons and saturdays usually. I don't have any days off during the week. I do stop working about 3pm on friday and then start laundry and the weekly dusting. I finish up the laundry on saturday morning when dh and I are doing the general house cleaning and weekly shopping. Each load takes about 2 hours so total time needed for the machine is about 12-14 hours. We aim to be finished with most things by the afternoon. I usually fold laundry on Sat. night while we watch tv. That takes me about 1.5-2 hours.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:53am
That would most definitely NOT be my choice. But neither would going further into debt to replace the couch be my choice.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:54am
They don't stay anywhere all week. I do laundry fri/sat. and fold saturday night. I put away our stuff saturday night and the kids put their stuff away sunday morning.
Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 11:55am

hey me too...doesn't mean I LIKE It... LOL.

I'm great about picking up clutter which I hate (and which my ex husband was the KING of) and I'm pretty good about laundry but I am not that great at the other stuff. can't tell the last time I dusted (Kelly and Liza actuallyw rote "we love mommy' in the dust on my tv in my bedroom) I vaccum sporadically adn give counters and things a good wipe down but the other stuff just floats on by.... and we defintiely dont' have a "sheet changing day" LOL. We do have "don't make your bed Tuesdays!' though -- this was something my mom did with me -- on Tuesdays (dont' ask me why we picked Tuesday) I got to skip making my bed... so Liza and I do that now every Tuesday as well...

It's a good thing she's getting a stepmother who's good at this domestic stuff cuz she's not gonna learn it from me! LOL

 

Yes. We. Did.

Pages